October 10, 2016

The Dakota Access Pipeline is just one of many pipelines coming out of the oil fields of western North Dakota. There are at least fifteen major pipelines across the Dakotas, so what is all the whoopla about? Why should we care about the standoff? The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has sued to stop the pipeline from crossing through their sacred sites and under the Missouri River. They claim that they were not given proper chance to comment on the route, that the project was fast tracked and corners were cut. A nonprofit, environmental, legal group, called Earthjustice, has accepted the job of pursuing the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s interests in federal court.

In the meantime, the shores of the Missouri River and venues across the country and throughout the world are crowding with demonstrators standing with the people of the Standing Rock Reservation. One hundred and eighty-eight Tribes across the United States and Canada have written letters of support. Thousands of individuals and hundreds of businesses - including Wild Idea Buffalo Company, support the protesters (water protectors).

The company that is building the 1,100 mile long pipeline is really a group of connected companies receiving 10.25 billion in loans and guarantees from 38 banks to continue building this pipeline and others across the country. Like the XL Pipeline that was recently brought to a halt by the Obama administration, the promoters of this pipeline promise thousands of temporary construction jobs and untold economic benefit from the oil that will be allowed to flow freely from the Bakken oil fields to industries and automobiles. What they don’t seem to understand, is that that oil will not only flow to those industries and automobiles, but will eventually flow right on up and into the atmosphere, causing even more havoc as greenhouse gasses. The people who stand to make billions of dollars by pumping oil from the Bakken to refineries in the east don’t seem to care about the atmosphere. They don’t seem to care much about the water in the ground either. They say that there is no chance of the pipeline ever breaking where it goes under the Missouri River. They say it could never contaminate the water supply of the Standing Rock People. But, forever is a very long time to go without a leak and the Standing Rock people have heard those kinds of guarantees before. In the long view, water is much more valuable than oil. It always has been and it always will be, to the Standing Rock People and to us all.

There is a BBC News video of a pretty young woman named Juliana Brown Eyes-Clifford, who lives in a very small town on the Pine Ridge Reservation just to our south side boundary fence. In the video she tells about a dream that she had: Her people were moving across a dry land and they are very thirsty. They see a simple faucet sticking up from the earth, the people struggle to the faucet, but when they turned it on, oil flowed. What a terrible dream to trouble the sleep of young Juliana Brown Eyes.

On the surface, the demonstrations up on Standing Rock and around the world are about protecting sacred burial sites and the Missouri River. But, beneath the surface are other festering wounds inflicted on us all by mindless industry, greed, and arrogance. There are tribes, individuals, and business on the long list of supporters of the demonstrators that know nearly nothing about Standing Rock, their sacred sites, or the chances of oil leaks into their water supply. The industrialists and bankers who are building the Dakota Access Pipeline would say that those tribes, people, and business should stay out of the controversy, that they don’t have a dog in the fight. But that is where they are wrong. We have all seen these little battles before. Perhaps we have closed our eyes to them in the past, but now our eyes are open. These small battles may be little more than local grievances, but they add up to a war that encompasses us all and one that we cannot afford to loose.

So, while the standoff on Standing Rock is very real - vital and dangerous as such demonstrations can be, it is also symbolic of larger passions that are rising up in our country and around the world. We are all the people of Standing Rock, finally awaken to the subhuman, faceless enemy that is trying to stare us down along the banks of the Missouri River. It could bring us all ruin as an unintended consequence of simple greed.

Comments

M.A.

October 10, 2016

Agree agree agree!!

David caputo

October 10, 2016

Eloquently said. Powerful rationale for opposition.

D. Robinson

October 10, 2016

Thank you for so eloquently stating the case. May I share your message?

Ann Smith

October 10, 2016

i stand with them also & the people that are fighting GMO products thank you.

Tim

October 10, 2016

Thank you for writing about this issue with great passion. This is yet another reason that I will continue to purchase from Wild Idea Buffalo Co.

Ellen Olander

October 10, 2016

I applaud your heartfelt words of support for Standing Rock and am proud to be one of your customers!!

Jane

October 10, 2016

Amen Dan. Thanks for everything you do!!!! And not being afraid to stand up for what you believe and put your mind and heart and money behind it.

Lawrence Rayburn

October 10, 2016

I was born into an oilfield worker’s family. I, like my Dad, worked my life away in the oilfields of west Texas. I even have, now that
I’m retired, a saltwater disposal well on my small farm that pays me $100k/year above my SS retirement.

I am 1/4 Choctaw, so I sympathize with the tribes there, but the oil companies are a BLESSING from God, not a blight on the land.

The picture with the caption is WRONG. The Earth and EVERYTHING, in or on it, belong to the Lord, Jesus the Christ.

The Indians knew Him only as The Great Spirit, but they KNEW Him. In the Sioux spirit dances before Little Big Horn, one of their shamans witnessed an apparition on a small cloud….a man….and he had the presence of mind to LOOK FOR THE NAIL
PRINTS in His hands. That is recorded in the book, “Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee”.

ol’ Lawrence in west Texas

Astrid

October 10, 2016

oh God, I am so sad to read this… no respect for nothing, they have these greedy persons… and besides, oil is going to lack in a few decades !! makes me depressed…
Astrid from France

Terry

October 10, 2016

While I could spend several hours dissecting refuting nearly everything in your post, I will leave it by stating that if you are going to take a political stand, then state it directly; don’t use some protest as a reason to state your opposition to oil and (apparently) modern society. The Standing Rock Sioux may have grounds to sue over their sacred grounds, but they don’t own the Missouri River or the billions of gallons of water that flow down it. And their suit has nothing to do with the atmosphere.

Susan

October 10, 2016

Yes! Thank you for articulating the whole question, and thank you for standing up for your ethics (which mirror my own). Rare and valuable.

Georgene

October 10, 2016

Well said, Dan. Having worked with the tribes, in both South Dakota and Arizona, I think it bears re-stating that the basis of the relationship, between the United States government and that of federally recognized tribes, is that of government-to-government. Even though the tribes are Sovereign Nations, the aura of authoritative paternalism still persists, in both governmental and commercial dealings and decisions.

Thank you, for an enlightening article.

Ron Ruck & Jane Nachazel-Ruck

October 10, 2016

Thank you. Many of your customers, like us, are probably aware of the broader implications of the Standing Rock fight, but others may not realize how all sustainable practices work together for the long-term protection of not only our immediate health and safety, but the health and safety of our and future generations. Natural processes take a long time and so people often don’t appreciate that something that seems valuable today can lead to starvation tomorrow, e.g., the birthplace of wheat is now a lifeless desert because the land was overused.

In the mists of history people could get away with trashing a part of the Earth. They could move on. But there are more people now and less untrammeled Earth. Our Central Intelligence Agency has identified climate change and food insecurity as a driver for future world conflicts. People get desperate when they’re hungry. It behooves all of us to support sustainable practices for all our benefit. It’s not that hard. It just takes being aware. Heck, Wild Idea Buffalo is delicious as well as healthier and sustainable! It’s the only red meat we buy. We also buy green cleaning products – and have found we’re healthier without all the chemicals in the house. We buy for ourselves and as gifts fair trade and/or local coffee, tea, cocoa and gifts of all kinds – and not only do we enjoy them, but the recipients of our gifts are always excited and asking where we got them. (That includes people much wealthier than we are who can afford to shop at much more expensive places.) And green energy jobs are growing faster than fossil fuel jobs as well as being more sustainable. We can do well by doing good! It just takes folks looking at the long term and acting accordingly!

M

October 10, 2016

With all due respect, I am happy to receive emails about your product offerings but have no interest in receiving what essentially is a political message. That is not why I am on your email list. If you only want people of a certain ideological point of view to be your customers that is your choice. I have enjoyed the products I have purchased from you but am aware of other sources who, I presume, won’t attempt to foist their political views on me.

Catherine Marble

October 10, 2016

We need to protect our land, its water and its biodiversity.
We need to respect the people of that land and their sacred sites.
We need to move from fossil energy to conservation and alternative energy.
Catherine from Minneapolis

Beverly Rubino

October 10, 2016

THANK YOU for pointing out the big picture… so many only see their small part in the overall puzzle, and fail (intentionally or not) to look at the whole picture, the big picture, and refuse to look broadly into the future. I wish EVERYONE would read your post, Dan. Everyone needs to consider the big picture and the long-term view in this issue.

Kally

October 10, 2016

Thank you for this wider view of survival than the dividend or paycheck that so many will not see past.

Barbara

October 10, 2016

“Water is much more valuable than oil”. That says it all!

waylan

October 10, 2016

I do sympathize with the Native Americans,thy are always getting shafted,and being deemed by the Government a Sovereign Nation,they should have the final say on what happens on their land,to deny them their Sovereignty is the height of Govt. hypocrisy.We do need Oil,why not continue to ship Oil via Railroad,provide needed jobs,to insist on an intrusive Pipeline is to insist on squeezing every drop of profit at the expense of everyone else.

Janet Dales

October 10, 2016

@ ol’ Lawrence: We can always depend on the ability of man to speak up for those who sign his paycheck. However we cannot not drink oil nor the wastes that end up in wells and acquirers. As CA enters its sixth year of drought, we will find out soon enough how long we can last too. And nobody is giving 100k a year for income to buy clean water. Nestle is taking the profit of our water overseas. Ironic, huh?

K. Wayne Wright

October 10, 2016

Is there a petition that people can sign to send to the so called leaders of our country to help stop this ruthless destruction of our mother earth? If there is I want to sign it and get as many others to sign as I can. Please respond as soon as you can. I really hate the way the so called most intelligent species called Humans are destroying our plant Mother Earth! Nobody has to live in the direct path of this destruction, ( or have a dog) as they said, to care about stopping It !!

Judie Maxfield

October 10, 2016

I have always had a special spot in my heart for our American Indians. We need to do all that can be done to protect everything and everybody because we are ALL precious in the eyes of God. Teach us Lord to be good stewards of your blessed land.
God bless you for all your efforts and communicating the same to us. Keep up the good work.
Judie – South Carolina

K. Wayne Wright

October 10, 2016

This is not about just the Native American People ! It affects everyone on this great and wonderful amazing Planet !!!!!

Kim Kizzier Sherrodd

October 10, 2016

Thank you for writing this beautiful piece. Yes, it is time that we begin to see the Earth and the People of the Earth – not the corporations of the earth as important. I am grateful for the jobs created for so many people by the oil industries. I am grateful for having oil and oil by-products in our lives for the ease it has created. That does not mean that we should blaze ahead mindlessly forgetting that we ALL share this earth together. We can survive without oil but the waters must flow clean for us to survive and the earth must continue to produce for us to survive. I am so proud of those who have gone forth with a voice to stand as water protectors. It is time we wake up as a society. I and my business Stand with Standing Rock.

Linda Clark

October 10, 2016

Dan, thank you so much for stating so clearly what is at stake. Yesterday at my Cambridge UU church we had two Native American speakers who’ve been at Standing Rock speak during and after our service. While many of us are aware of Standing Rock—and we have our own pipeline issues right here in MA, it was so good to hear directly from people most closely affected by this pipeline. Thank you, too, for putting your money where you mouth is, seeing profit at the expense of our planet as an unethical and unsustainable practice. I can’t afford to buy as much of your bison as I’d like but when I buy beef, I choose local/regionallly raised grass-fed beef as a humane, ethical, and healthy alternative. No more beef from cattle who spend their last days in misery unhealthy feedlots!

Denis Harden

October 10, 2016

I am both of native heritage,Winnebago and European, and agree with most of the comments except those who believe that big oil give us the truth. We have seen and heard of accidents from things like the Exxon Valdez and the Gulf of Mexico so something can always happen. These Native people aren’t just standing up for their ancestors but also to finally tell the American government enough is enough. All Americans should stand with these people and finally become part of the solution instead of the problem. This country could become a cutting edge nation in renewable energy technologies and lead the rest of the world instead of following. Let us all become united Americans and start standing for what is right not for how much money we can make at the sake of our country.

Laura Culley

October 10, 2016

I seriously do not understand why regular people all over the country/world are not rioting in the streets demanding an end to this greedy madness. The concept is so simple. We cannot eat, drink or breathe money. Why can’t we (the greater WE of uninformed sheep) GET that? It really is a pretty simple concept!

Geri Keams

October 10, 2016

Thank you for your very insightful and heartfelt message of truth. We have only one home here on earth and we need to protect Mother Earth in every way possible. The use of fossil fuels has tapped out most of the resources left in the earth and it’s time now to come together and speak with one voice. This not just an “Indian” problem anymore, it is a “humankind” problem and we must all face the facts. We must stop and listen to the earth once again, not with the head where profit margins reign but deep within where we care about the next generation. Fracking must stop, the insanity of building an 1100 mile pipeline must end. I don’t believe for a second when they say it’s safe and that we need the oil more the risks that needs to be taken. We all know that it would only be a matter of time if this pipeline is built that rivers and lands will be destroyed. Not worth the jobs, the income, the economy or those who believe the greater “manifest destiny”, where it’s ok to destroy lands and cultures, and eminent domain are the orders of the day. Time to look toward the vision of Sitting Bull who said, “let us put our minds together to build a better world for our children”.

Mare

October 10, 2016

Thank you Dan, this article helps define the issues of Standing Rock. We need to know.

Janis Griffin

October 10, 2016

Am in total accord with the tribes.. We have had multiple oil spills here in Santa Barbara, California. Big investors with Big money sources DO NOT CARE about our environment-they are the faces of UGLY CAPITALISM-and care not if they RAPE our environment!!!

David M. Allen

October 10, 2016

Over 100 years the government took the Natives land and resources and kill hundreds of thousands + in the process. A treaty was signed to put the Natives in small reservations for the government’s greed for money and power. Now here the government wants to take more and possibly destroy the area where these people live and their livelihood, homes, water, land. This government is so powerful now that they will get their pipeline….or get another Ruby Ridge. This type of behavior has to be stopped. This government is pushing us and the Natives around as they wish…..Great Spirit help us through this illegal voting in November.

Bill Day

October 10, 2016

I don’t believe for a moment that Dan is using this venue to make a political statement. If the few of you above, think so, you don’t know the man. He is only speaking the TRUTH. Besides, has this country not pissed on the Native Americans enough? Lets give them a break for a change.

bill day
North Georgia Mountains

Bob Watland

October 10, 2016

The Lord says the earth is mine and all it contains, if I wanted to use it, I would not ask. I would do it. We need the jobs that it would provide. All the money in the whole world would do no good by itself.

Markus

October 10, 2016

Cactus Ed was right, “The most common form of terrorism in the U.S.A. is that carried on by bulldozers and chain saws.”

Randolph Runs After

October 10, 2016

Well said sir. The Missouri River is too important to too many people who rely on it for drinking irrigating and watering livestock to allow to be contaminated.

Lorna Caulkins

October 10, 2016

Thank you for lending your voice to this issue. The values and practices on which Wild Idea are based reflect the concerns of those of us who have opposed the pipeline. In Iowa, the many properties that the pipeline threatens to cross may be damaged in a variety of ways. The threat to water is only one. Land may be taken by eminent domain, although the purpose is for the profit of the oil company and not for public use. Opposition by many landowners has been stronge, and it has been moving to have the Native American community join them. I am happy to have a business I treasure join this cause.

Arthur G. Kirby II

October 10, 2016

Favored beyond belief, three generations of my family were keepers of the land on the reservation NW of Mobridge by Trail City, the Old School Rd. Riding across waiste high grass and clover bareback on a great pony are my most cherished in life thus far.

JB

October 10, 2016

I grew up on the banks of the Missouri, before graduating from the School of Mines, and then going to work for one of those “connected companies” out “east” that extract materials from the earth modern man too often takes for granted after the “temporary construction workers” move on to the next job and the “untold economic benefit” never gets told.

I’ve visited every reservation in South Dakota. Perhaps, they should look within before they worry so much about our country’s energy economy.

The “greed” you condemn is actually what allows me to splurge on your products for my middle class family.

Jon Peterson

October 11, 2016

Alternative energy currently comprises 10% of our total needs. Alternative sources such as wind and solar power will never be our primary sources of energy, unfortunately they can’t be because of our massive consumption. In 2015 the United States consumed 97.7 quadrillion BTUs of energy. For reference (1) quadrillion BTU is equivalent to 45 million tons of coal, 1 trillion cubic feet of gas or 170 million barrels of oil. Like it or not fossil fuels will be our primary provider of energy consumption unless there is are scientific break throughs that can be massively adopted. At this moment objecting to the development of the Bakken pipeline is “whistling in the wind”, it serves no purpose and potentially could only increase the price of our energy needs.

two dog

October 11, 2016

like a dog soldier I stake myself with the Standing Rock tribe.

Roxanne Fox

October 11, 2016

Thank you for your product, the way you run your business and thank you for taking your time to be involved in issues that have to do with the betterment/protection of the only world we have to live in.

CJ Brennan

October 11, 2016

People are waking up. All life is interconnected.

Thank you for taking an important stand and communicating it so eloquently.

One more reason to remain a loyal customer.

Shane Weber

October 11, 2016

I agree with a few that I would much rather not get political views from a place where I get food…. we get too much news as it is nowadays. Having said that(and since you started it)…. Protecting our earth is very important to me, I hope our children aren’t left with a disaster. If you are going to dig up all this information on the oil companies and banks, I urge you to drive through the reservations of North and South Dakota and tell me that the people protesting really care about the land that they live on. What happened a hundred or more years ago to Native Americans is a terrible thing, but it is in the past! If people can’t move on and try to better themselves, then nothing will ever get better. Living in the past never helped a future.

Earl Smith

October 11, 2016

We use petroleum to make the plastic trays used for surgical devices that save peoples lives. Without them many of you would not be alive today. I do not condone disrespect for the environment, however, without many of the advances due to plastic we would still be in the stone age. What we make is made from oil and without it the medical devices used in the operating room would not be sterile. If you think wind and solar can replace oil for everything, it cannot. There are no substitutes that are available.

Valeria

October 11, 2016

I stand with Sioux nation as a descendant of the native nations! Our earth was created for we as humans to be cared for and passed from generation to generation, and we have raped it to death in the name of the “almighty dollar”!
I too have been fed by the " oil field" , but the oil field has ruined our earth!!
Soon we will all be in search of a drink of fresh water, and it will be nowhere to be found! Try then to drink the results of the wonderful “oil field” .

Nancy Leopold Barker

October 11, 2016

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

D L Vorce

October 12, 2016

There are NO easy answers to the problems we create for the planet and ourselves. There IS some low hanging fruit which, if those with fingers on the buttons had the will, could be harvested. It’s easy to wish for permanent solutions to man-made problems. There would be no need for bureaucratic solutions if each of us made some small changes.

The mantra Reduce-Reuse-Recycle is a good place to start. The recent articles about more pieces of plastic (OIL) in the oceans than fishes could be interpreted to say we are NOT capturing usable items from the “waste” stream. Why do we NOT have deposits on all containers? Lack of will. Were we to discontinue making plastic containers, bags, and other non-essential items of plastic, drive a little less, carpool a little more, perhaps pipelines would become less necessary.

I could not understand why, after corporate leaders made millions, they kept the machine churning. Still don’t. How much money is enough? Rampant capitalism WILL destroy humanity. Rest assured however, barring an asteroid, the earth will carry on. With us or without us, she will keep turning.

Teresa

October 12, 2016

Thank you, Dan. Thank you for speaking up for the animals and the plants, and for our children. I am proud to be your customer.

David

October 14, 2016

Well put, Dan. I’m reminded of your fictional book “Eminent Domain” wherein private and corporate entities abused the power of eminent domain for profit, not public need/safety. Someday we humans may recognize we are part of the earth and have responsibilities to care and sustain it. Mother Earth will survive, but we won’t if we continue to exploit resources for selfish private gain… aka greed. We certainly can do without more petro pollution. I wholeheartedly support your efforts and caring.

Bill Kingsbury

October 15, 2016

Just a couple of thoughts, 1st,the only way to stop this is to go back to the Horse & Buggy. I just don’t care about planting potatoes with a horse without air conditioning. 2nd thought do any of you people that are protesting & have been living by the river for all this time ever have to go back to work.

Jill O'Brien

October 15, 2016

Thank you all for your comments, supportive or otherwise. This is the point to blog posts such as this – to give thoughtful people the opportunity to voice their opinion for others to consider. We respectfully post all comments, unless vulgar or off topic.

Thomas S.Redding

October 15, 2016

Now if ONLY ALL of America would get behind this and TELL corporate America where to stick their ‘’ Greed ’’

Gayle Marsh

October 21, 2016

Thank you Dan and Jill for all you do and for helping to educate the rest of us through your actions and words. You are my (s)heros!

Jennifer Buckley

October 22, 2016

Thank you. Idle No More!

Barbara Horton

October 22, 2016

Thank you Dan for using your gift of writing to spread the word of what is happening at Standing Rock, SD cannot take the risk of an oil spill in the Missouri River.

Bill ochs

October 23, 2016

My dad introduced my brothers and i to fishing on the Missouri River in the mid 70’s. It would really suck to see an oil spill on the river. i am s steel erector and ironically I’m workiing on that reservation

mayfield mccloud

October 25, 2016

Bless ALL the people that donated to the Standing Rock Res. This is so important to ALL of us, In New Mexico, in my area…we fought Kender-Morgan a CO2 pipeline Co. that would have run very close to all the rural areas here, which would have effected our water also, after a year….WE WON…..AHO….Everyone keep up the prayers and good work, Blessings AND Thank you Dan for your GREAT Support…..Aho

Keith H

October 26, 2016

Yes I DO AGREE they do NOT need their land TAKEN from them for the SECOND TIME !!!! IF they persist in going ahead with this pipeline, then WHY NOT do what Canada did on the Tundra and raise it to not disturb the caribou migrations and keep it ABOVE ground as to NOT disturb the prairie and the Missouri River in the United States particularly the GREAT state of North Dakota ? TRULY the HAVE to be smarter than that, PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!

Jake

October 27, 2016

I stand with my Native American brothers and sisters they are correct, do some studying elsewhere about pipelines that were not supposed to break but did and ruined the waters.We do not need the oil but we need our WATER.

Pedro

November 02, 2016

Dan – a very timely and concise summation, and not a political “foist”, of the situation. It’s true that as a nation we can’t meet our energy needs with alternative means yet, but if we keep opting for the quick and expedient fix rather than taking the long view we’ll never effect real change. What’s the old saying about expecting different results with the same behavior….?! I for one applaud your post; it just reinforces the philosophy and integrity that makes your operation so great.

JoAnn Hajek

November 03, 2016

simply,Yes!

pat

November 05, 2016

Yes, all water is sacred.

Jamie

November 27, 2016

I believe in climate change and I believe that water is life but I honestly don’t know all that much about the issues at Standing Rock. To better educate myself, I’ve watched videos from many outlets (news and otherwise), I researched a number of articles, and I listened to the comparison by whistleblower John Bolenbaugh between the Kalamazoo, MI oil spill and the potential environmental impact of a spill in Standing Rock. I want to know more but I also want the information to be reputable. Any advice on where to look? Why does the government treat indigenous people as though they don’t matter? Why is the environment thrown to the wayside? Is it all financially driven?